science and art being mixed together

Researchers and artists have teamed up for a series of talks regarding research, known as the Science of the Five Senses at the New York Academy of Sciences. In this article from the New York Times, the question being proposed was: "if we had a better understanding of the signals our bodies send to our brains. might we take more pleasure from them?"

Scientists invited artists to explain their work- Rosanne Cash, the country singer and songwriter was eventually chosen. She had underwent brain surgery last year, but before her operation she had asked neurologist Oliver Sacks whether or not she would lose the ability to play music. The series is going to start with excerpts from the documentary, "Touch: the Forgotten Sense," which is about a woman who has lost all of her senses due to a virus.

Smell will also be talked about, among the topics covered will be: "Can smells trigger memories? Does body odor really attract mates, and if so, why do we cover it with perfume? What makes some of us insensible to certain scents?"

Sight will be demonstrated with a variety of visual illusions by the neurologist Christof Koch and the master pickpocket Apollo Robbins, who was enlisted by Koch.